News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1887-04-07
his coat, and was into his 1eathern apron

NO excuse needed in a case lii
this, replied the blacksmith, slowl
''No fault to find with you on that ecoT
jerry"
"Any fault to find anywhere, sir
queried his apprentice, the roar fro
the bellows almost drowning his voice.
''Not genelly, not 'ticker1y, boy; b1
still I might say, in fatherly kind of
way, that you're gittin' just little tc
smart fer a cubl"
''Too smart for cub'-what do vo
mean, sir2" cried our hero with flisi
ed face,
''What do I mean 2" replied his ma.
ter, with loud laugh-''why,' 'jjist whs
I've said, of course What have I bee
! doing these thirty years. Tc1din' t
my trade, haven't II When I worke
as prentice l acted like one. Yo
dent, you see. Who ever heerd of
feller in your place studyin' grammel
and borrowin' books to read after night
When you go home, do like 1 did
keep your mind on your bis'ness. Don
think of nothin' but that. I don't wan
no scholard here fer a cub, nor no on
that stands off from the crowd an,
won't be drawed into no talk unless it
related of to some eddicated thing o
mother. You're soarin' too much
young man. I don't like it. Nobod,
else does. Now git to work and qui
it'll"
Jerry stood for one moment irreso
lutte. His face was hot with passion
and a savage rejoiner was on his tongue
but he thought of his mother. In spit,
of his narrowness, his master was kind
and an excellent workman. So he turn
ed on his heel and whistled. Mr.. Cad
ford glared at him savagely out of tn,
corner of his eye, and had it ON his lip
TO order the music stopped, but thought
better of it, and pounded his thumb
| with the hammer instead.
| BlaketOn could boast of but one dry.
! goods store, but that was an unusually
large and extensive one for so small o
place. Mr.. Silas Upton, the proprietor,
had done thriving business that pleas
ant April day and he watched the sun
declining behind the hills with no par
ticular regret. But trade was not
done yet, apparently, for no less a per
ed and advanced toward the counter.
"And what can 1 do for you, my
friend?" inquired the merchant, rub
bing his hands and smiling blandly.
''But very little, sir; hardly worth
your time and trouble; only pair of
suspenders, and not very expensive
ones either"
"Here they are, strong as rope as
elastic as-as you are, I take it," glanc-
ing at the young mans well-knit frame
''They look like good ones, that's q
fact. You needn't mind doing them up.
L Will pay you Saturday night when 1
get my wages"
With deft movement, Mr.. Upton
snatched the suspenders from the pur-
chasers hands and tossed them back in
to the box, with the words:
Don't begin in that way, young
man Don't start out in life by asking
credit. Come, let me give you lesson
1uyf Ghat IS tie way way 'i btsfii l1afy "il fa9
he only way to begin. Don't spend /
your money before you get it. That's
ny advice, and you'll thank me for it
some day."
It is needless to inform the reader
that our friend jerry was somewhat as
tonished, not to say embarrassed, at the
turn affairs had taken. He knew well
enough, disguise it under the form of
advice as he might, that the merchant
hesitated to trust him even for so small
a sum. He had never before felt SO
lowered in his own estimation. This
did him good. His thoughts flew fast.
Suppose he should act on the advice so
freely givenl 1t was sound enough.
Let him show no ill-will and bear it like
a man. This resolution was taken, he
held out his grimy hand with the words:
You have hit me hard, Mr.. Upton,
and should lie to you if l said it didn't
hurt. But think it'll do me good l
am pretty sure I shall never forget
it. Will you shake hands, sir?"
1t was now the merchants turn to
show perplexity. 1t is very likely he
would have preferred losing the whole
box of suspenders to such hearty ac-
eeptance of his fatherly counsel. With
IN embarrassed smile he took the out
stretched hand, and WINGED as he felt
he firm pressure of the fingers against
lis own. His well of advice being
dry, he had nothing more to
i'd as his would-be customer touched
lis hat and departed.
At precisely half past six o'clock Sat !
lrday night jerry entered the store and (
a pair of suspenders paying |
or them on the spot. The clerk made |
he sale, and Mr.. Upton, busted with |
lis books, looked up with q perplexed |
scratched the bridge of |
lis nose refectively, and was lost again. |
" / tell you he's above his bis ness - |
Mr.. Gadford, one bright May
to group of his old cronies,
Who lounged about the Harbor, engaged |
II idle conversation. There's no ,
loubt about that in my mind. A pretty |
blacksmith he is, to be everlastinl ly
eadin' and studyin'l He isn't one of |
IS, that he isn't. I've tried my best to
eform him, but faint no use. He's in
manner-in manner, say, a dis
race to the trade, and I'm ashamed of
i'm !" and the outraged blacksmith
licked piece of iron spitefully one side
18th his heavy boot, and began filling
is pipe as solace for his ruffled
houghts.
''He learned the trade, anyhow,
idn't he?" queried old John Oliver, a
1peranuated wagon-maker, who, pre-
inning on his age and infirmities, often
sked disagreeable questions.
don't say as he hasn't" retorted
[r. Gadford, moodily. "He served his
me, and I don't turn out no poor
not if / know it, don't;
1T learnin' and blacksmithin' won't
tx, nor more nor oil and water. Why
know it for a fac that he's got a [
orary-a library, gentlemen" here .
e speaker spat on his hands and grasp I
his hammer as if desirous of demoI-
hing it forthwith-"and reads every
ing, Associates with Preacher Banks,
anges books with him, you know, {
ID talks over theologys and things, '
st as if-as if, he wasn't blacksmith. /
here'd have been to-day if ] had
arted out by putin ON airs and gittin' t
owe my bis 'ness2 But I didn't. [ {
1ck to my trade, and now where am II '
here am |, eh2" {
Fright here, Sammy, right here" l
Piled Mr. Slabton, near and dear t
end, who acted in the capacity of vii |
ye sexton. t
eyes, right here, as fixture and y {
ccess, anyone dispute thatl" ]
The awful silence which followed this t
cry was its only answer. e
Now, how'd do itl" continued Mr. L
afford, in slightly Modified voice. t
BY mindin' my bis'ness and lettin' the v
le arts alone. jerry Altman II never L
1ld up character in this country. s
e's a-dividin' himself too much; and i
use, as the Scripture plainly say, div 5
ed agin' itself will great be the fall e
ereofl" q
Reckon you haven't heard the t
'wsf" inquired Mr.. Oliver, who did b
1t appear particularly overpowered. II
'No. What nevs2" from the Harbor n